This article examines the scope of nonlawyer judges in state and local trial courts, with an emphasis on courts of limited jurisdiction. It looks at trends in legal education and the current emphasis on judicial ethics. A review of statewide court reform in Pennsylvania is detailed as representative of many states' experiences. An analysis of criminal defendants' due process rights before nonlawyer judges reviews cases from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Tennessee Supreme Court. The article concludes with ideas about the future of nonlawyer judges.
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